The Atlantic Coast Conference’s Committee for Racial and Social Justice (CORE - Champions of Racial Equity) announced three new initiatives on Thursday, Sept. 3 to further the committee's mission.
- Athletes, ACC staff and each ACC institution's athletic staff will undergo mandatory diversity and inclusion training with a focus on anti-racism.
- The conference created the "ACC Unity Symbol" as a "visual representation of solidarity" between the 15 schools that make up the ACC.
- The new ACC Unity Statement will be read before every ACC athletic event.
The unity symbol — "UNITE" — will be displayed in various venues and on video boards at ACC events, as well as on the league's social media.
The ACC Unity Statement that will be read before events is as follows: “We, the ACC, are committed to seeing each other as equals, supporting each other, and treating each other with respect and dignity at all times, recognizing that our differences don't divide us, but they make us stronger.”
CORE was established over the summer and was announced by outgoing ACC commissioner John Swofford. The committee includes six members of the UNC athletics department, among them Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham, Senior Associate Athletic Director Martina Ballen and Senior Associate Athletic Director Dwight Hollier.
“I applaud the work of ACC CORE and the initiatives collaborated on and adopted by our schools,” Swofford said in a released statement. “It is critically important for our country to unite as one. The ACC is committed to creating meaningful change, eradicating racism, and upholding the values of equality, diversity and non-discrimination."
The ACC lists CORE's actions so far as recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday, working with ACC schools to increase voter education and serve as polling places and "engaging in conversations and education throughout the conference with staff and student-athletes and initiating partnerships with local organizations and community groups."
Last week, UNC athletes marched in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and passed out voter registration forms. On the same day, football head coach Mack Brown released a four minute video speaking out against racism. The athletics department has since announced an athlete-driven voter drive, hoping to get 100 percent of eligible athletes registered to vote. UNC teams have been promoting information about registration on their social media.
